The Counting House Story

About Counting House Associates

Why We Do What We Do

We are different than your traditional CPA firm. We work exclusively with small business clients and their owners. We provide a suite of back-office services that include Bookkeeping & Accounting, Management Consulting, Year-Round Advice, Full Service Payroll processing, Tax Planning and Tax Preparation. A “One-Stop-Shop” if you will.

Our mission is to help our clients on their path to success. We don’t define success but simply help them achieve their goals. In doing so, we make a difference in our client’s lives.

CHA Vision

We strive to be the first and most logical choice for small business professional accounting services in the Greater Seacoast region.

Our Values

Counting House places the highest value and esteem in its employees who work hand in hand with its clients to build the strongest, most efficient and profitable small businesses on the seacoast. We believe in a learning organization, we place a high emphasis on technology improvements, investing back in the company and the community. We provide employees growth opportunities and a voice in the operation. We celebrate everyday accomplishments. We are a family-oriented business, as are many of our clients.

As an active community and corporate citizen, Counting House stands side by side with local non-profit organizations, helping individuals and families to achieve greater heights through sharing our talents, financial support and time.

Our community participation includes: Cross Roads House, New Generations, United Way of The Greater Seacoast, NH Special Olympics, the Music Hall in Portsmouth, SCORE, Seacoast Repertory Theater, Hero Pups, Project Pawsitive Foundation, and Memphis Area Golden Retriever Rescue (we’re a dog-friendly company). Owner, Van Ballantyne is involved with several non-profit boards and committees.

CHA Awards & Recoginition

Counting House has been awarded the Business of the Year Award from the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, was selected as Seacoast Readers Choice for Best Accounting Firm and Best Tax Preparer for multiple years, received the Franchisee of the Year Award from FIDUCIAL. Van has been the past Chairman of EACC Board, Ambassador Chair and Treasurer. He has been treasurer of a condo association, the Oceanside BNI Chapter, and the Warwick Club. he has been a guest speaker at Citizens Bank Small Business Series and a past speaker at Buzgate series. He is an active participant and lecturer at his trade association Professional Association of small Business Accountants (PASBA.org). The company remains active with EACC and currently holds the seat of Treasurer along with various committees.

A Proud PASBA Member

Counting House Associates is a member of the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants (PASBA) whose members provide professional business and tax services to small businesses throughout the North America. Using the collective resources of this network, association members offer their clients a level of service and expertise that individual practices are unable to rival. To learn more, visit www.PASBA.org.

Our Past Creates Our Present

By Shaping Us Into Who We Are Today

Many growing businesses face challenges and change over the course of their lifespan and Counting House is no exception to this rule.

2000From Humble Beginnings

In 2000 Van Ballantyne, EA, MBA left corporate America and became an entrepreneur opening a small business accounting and financial services office, first in his basement and later in Greenland, NH under the name Century Small Business Solutions® and then later as Fiducial.

2008The Big Step

In 2008, with drastic changes in the small business accounting market and a highly undeserved market, Van decided to leave franchise ownership and became an independent small business accounting firm under the name, Counting House Associates. From 2000 to present, the firm saw steady and increasing growth every year. As part of the firms expansion plans, Counting House moved its offices to a larger, more client friendly space at 524 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, NH where they reside today.

About R. Van Ballantyne

Van spent the first 20 years of his career in corporate accounting as an accountant, controller, finance director, CFO, and VP of Finance for mid-sized businesses throughout the greater seacoast area. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Whittemore School of Business & Economics and has earned his MBA. As an Enrolled Agent he is licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. He is a member of the Professional Association of Small Business Accountants (PASBA).